MLS Orlando City SC

Lions Return to MLS Action Saturday in Vancouver

Published on June 8, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City SC (6-6-1, 19 points) returns to MLS play when it visits Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-5-5, 20 points) on Saturday, June 9. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m ET at BC Place.

The match will be locally televised on WRDQ TV27 and streamed on YouTube TV. It will also be broadcast on FM 96.9 The Game in English and La Nueva 990 AM in Spanish.

"We are fully prepared, feeling comfortable knowing who our opponent is tomorrow, knowing where their danger lie - it's a game we feel good about," said Head Coach Jason Kreis. "We have the challenge of the travel, the challenge with a match [this past] Wednesday night to contend with, but I think we have enough fresh guys that weren't involved in that game that should be able to contribute for us tomorrow as well as the guys that did play in that game I think are fully recuperated and regenerated."

The Lions are coming off a 3-0 win over NPSL side Miami United FC in the fourth round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Sacha Kljestan had the first three-assist game by a Lion since Kaká on Sept. 25, 2015 as Stéfano Pinho, Dillon Powers and PC scored. RJ Allen earned his second assist as a Lion. Goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr., earned a one-save clean sheet in his first appearance of 2018.

This is the third match of a five-game road trip that concludes with City's U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match at D.C. United on June 20. Dom Dwyer leads the Lions with six goals, followed by Chris Mueller, Yoshimar Yotún and Cristian Higuita with three each.

Vancouver is fresh off a 2-1 road victory at Colorado on last Friday. Cristian Techera opened the scoring in the 17th minute for the Whitecaps, followed by the eventual game-winner from Yordy Reyna in the 39th. Édgar Castillo scored Colorado's lone goal in the 41st minute.

The Whitecaps are currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak dating back to May 11, four of those coming on draws. Vancouver has lost only once at home this season, a 2-0 loss to LAFC on April 13.

Techera leads the Whitecaps with six goals in 2018. Felipe Martins leads the team and is tied with seven other players for third in MLS with six assists. The Whitecaps will be without defender Kendall Watson, who was named to Costa Rica's 23-man World Cup roster.

Egyptian defender Amro Tarek is back from national team duty and will be available for selection for the first time since May 18. City will be without midfielder Yoshimar Yotún, who was named to Peru's 23-man World Cup roster. Los Incas begin group play on Saturday, June 16, vs. Denmark.

Saturday's match will feature former Lions Brek Shea and Jose Aja, who were traded to Vancouver in February 2017 and 2018, respectively.

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